Colorado Father Accused of Locking Kids in Basement Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A Colorado Springs father accused of locking his children in a basement is being ordered to take anger management classes and perform community service after pleading guilty to a single count.

Sixty-year-old William Fam entered his plea Monday to a charge of negligent child abuse causing injury. In addition to the anger classes and community service, Fam must also serve 24 months of unsupervised probation.

Fam and his wife, 49-year-old Samia Fam, were accused of locking up four boys and two girls overnight and on weekends to keep them from running away or taking food.

William Fam's attorney, David Foley, says the entire case was "blown out of proportion."

Samia Fam previously pleaded guilty to a single count of negligent child abuse without injury.